Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Known as the Father of the Nation for his role in forming the United Arab Emirates, the late H. H. Sheikh Zayed
bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the first President of the UAE. He served this position since the formation of the UAE
on 2 December 1971 until he passed away in 2004. He also served as the Ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi from
1966 to 2004, Born in the city of Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed was the
youngest of the four sons of H. H. Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 to
1926.
Sheikh Zayed was a good listener and an unbiased dispute mediator. He was also renowned for his patience, vision
and wisdom; qualities that earned him the title of ‘the wise man of the Arabs’, He ensured that all UAE citizens are instrumental to the nation's collective
success. His vision led the UAE to be the GCC’s second biggest economy after KSA, the third largest in
the Middle East and according to many prestigious international reports, the most important financial and
economic centre in the region, The process of establishing the
Federation started with the late Sheikh Zayed paving the way towards a unity to ensure the Trucial
States’ survival and at later stages to enforce the federal authorities when faced with serious
threats.
On 16 January 1968 after the announcement of British withdrawal from east of Suez and the Gulf, Sheikh Zayed
established closer ties with the other emirates. He went immediately to Dubai to discuss the next steps with the
then Ruler of Dubai, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, On
18 February 1968, both Sheikhs concluded an agreement on a federation between them, and called for a
Federation that would include not only the seven emirates that made up the Trucial States, but also Qatar
and Bahrain.
Three and a half years later, with the close of British withdrawal, Sheikh Zayed again engaged Sheikh Rashid and
the other Rulers in the Trucial States in the decisive discussions, which determined the essential nature of the
UAE, While Sheikh Zayed’s enthusiasm was a key factor in the
formation of the UAE, he also won support for the way in which he sought consensus and agreement among his
fellow Rulers.
Eventually, six emirates (except Ras Al Khaimah) followed Sheikh Zayed in establishing the UAE, which formally
emerged on the international stage on 2 December 1971. The Rulers of the other emirates unanimously elected
Sheikh Zayed as the President of the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah acceded to the new federation on 10 February
1972.